The AA has released statistics revealing that of the £582.6 billion raised in UK taxes in 2014, almost 10% came from motorists.

UK motorists pay more in fuel duty alone than UK firms and companies pay in business rates and the equivalent of 97.5% of what is received through council tax. Other motoring taxes raise another £6.1bn in vehicle excise duties, and a further £25bn from VAT on fuel and car sales, company car tax and insurance premium tax.

Despite this, the AA claims road users have to put up with high parking costs and roads that are badly maintained and often blacked out at night.

With all of this in mind, the motoring association has launched its Motorists’ Manifesto, calling on all drivers to show support through social media with the #Vote4BetterRoads campaign.

Over the last 12 months, the AA has been taking the pulse of the British motorist to find out the issues that matter to them.

• The number one concern for drivers is potholes and the state of the roads. Road condition affects us all, whether on four wheels or, more dangerously, on two. Potholes and poorly maintained roads are a threat to road safety and cost us millions of pounds in punctures, damaged rims and even shock absorbers and suspension. We need more funding ring-fenced to improve the state of the roads.

• The cost of motoring, despite some recent relief on the fuel forecourt, also remains a concern. Again, no big shock that it comes in at number two on our list. A fuel duty freeze may have helped at the margins but the AA wants to see full fuel price transparency with published wholesale and retail prices and the abolition of tolls in England and Wales.

• Third was driver behaviour, which is perhaps more surprising. We can’t really hold the government to account for this as the ultimate responsibility lies with the individual. However, ministers can influence levels of road policing and the content of the driving test. We need more police in cars to target dangerous behavior like tailgating and use of mobiles at the wheel. Better road safety education within the national curriculum from an early age will also help.

The AA is calling on all motorists to support its #Vote4BetterRoads campaign and is urging drivers to question prospective parliamentary candidates on what they will do to help drivers.
If the cost of motoring is a concern for your business, find out here if a fuel card could ease your mind.

I can be fairly confident that you, like me, think you are better than the average driver.

A study conducted in 1981 found that a staggering 93% of drivers thought that they were “better than average”. This in itself cannot be true, because if over half of the driving population were better than average, the average would not be the average.

A more recent survey shows that we think other drivers are well below average. These results are perhaps not surprising, since they come from an organisation that reports dangerous driving to the authorities using footage captured by the public.

Budget restraints in the last ten years have meant that police time can often be stretched, so allowing citizens to submit footage would surely help improve road safety. Right?

As things stand, video and photographic evidence gathered by citizens can’t be used for motoring prosecutions. But seeing as closed-circuit camera systems have long been accepted as sources of evidence, as long as the footage is time-stamped and dated, shouldn’t the same be true for in-car systems?

But for those who worry that this sort of thing would turn the nation’s drivers into would-be vigilantes, it is worth bearing in mind the skewed view we have on our own driving ability.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many cases where members of the public report what they think is someone else’s dangerous driving, only to find that when the footage is reviewed by the police, the authorities decide they were at fault and prosecute them instead.

Industry experts say the number of people buying dashcams is rising steadily, and that the policy on using footage captured by the public is likely to be reviewed by the Government. That being said, we have to remember that with this power, comes great responsibility.

Did you know that using a fuel card is the safest way to pay for fuel?

When it comes to buying fuel for a commercial fleet, there are really only three options: cash, credit or fuel cards. With petrol and diesel being such precious commodities, they have become the target of unscrupulous thieves and protection from theft and fraud is an important part of fuel management.

Of the three options available to fleets, cash is the most insecure. If a fuel or credit card is lost or stolen it is cheap and easy to replace. Hard cash is much more difficult to recover. Plus, carrying hundreds of pounds of cash puts your drivers at risk, making them targets for crime.

On top of this, cash could open the doorway to businesses being cheated by their own drivers, claiming for fuel that they never purchased. While you may trust your team, more than a fifth (22%) of drivers admitted to exaggerating mileage claims.

Some fleets have considered using a credit or prepay card and while they have some of the same protection as fuel cards – PIN, remote cancelling, etc. – fuel cards go further.

Cards from chooseafuelcard.com can be matched with vehicle registrations, meaning fuel can only be purchased for a specific vehicle in your fleet. Again, this ensures corporate fuel cards are only being used to buy fuel for corporate vehicles.

With fuel fraud costing UK businesses £136 million each year, the protection they offer could be the number one reason for introducing them in your fleet during this time of squeezed budgets. Especially as added security brings one further benefit money can’t buy: peace of mind.

Give yourself peace of mind today by introducing fuel cards. Find the right one for you here.

As the year begins in earnest, there is no better time to review fleet fuel management strategies. Fuel cards could not only make paying for fuel easier in 2015, but also provide powerful information about your fleet’s behaviour resulting in serious savings over the course of the year.

When you set up a fuel card account, you will receive access to an online fuel management solution which will reduce your administration and make it easier for you to plan your budget and save money. As well as offering a centralised way to pay for fuel (cutting out processing receipts and reimbursing staff expenses), the system will provide you with itemised billing so you can view all the payments that have been made on the account in one central place.

Fuel management systems also offer you and your company an easy way to gather information about your fleet and manage it accordingly. For example you can group drivers into departments or locations so that you can work out which areas of your business are the most expensive in terms of fuel and address these with training if required.

These reporting tools will not only allow you to easily view data and share it with others in the business – they will also assist you in planning and managing your fleet’s future activities.

Fuel cards give you a network of filling stations, along with journey planning tools. You can work out the cheapest routes for your drivers and look at ways to improve fuel efficiency. This also makes it easier for you to monitor prices and predict what your fuel expenses will be – very useful in this fluctuating market.

Trying to monitor and manage this information manually is very time consuming and can be unreliable. Processing receipts and recording expenditure gives you limited insight into the journeys your mobile employees are making. A fleet fuel management system provides you with all information at the click of a button.

Finding out how fuel cards can improve your fleet management in 2015 takes less than 30 seconds. Just use our fuel card selector tool here.

Fuel card programmes can be very beneficial to any organisation. They let you centralise all information and cashflow related to fuel costs, letting you accurately gauge where and when your drivers are buying fuel. This will help you eliminate any instances where the costs aren’t work related and you can take actions to stop it in the future.

You will be able to maximise efficiency by planning routes effectively to make the most of the fuel stations available to you and where your driver has to go on a daily basis to save more money and increase effectiveness.

Fuel card programmes also have extra security measures that can be included, such as chip and pin, time and spend restrictions as well as added insurance to protect your business should something go wrong. There is a range of fuel card programmes available so it is import to research them fully before deciding.

There are fuel cards for diesel engines and for European locations to suit companies of any size and purpose. Effectively using a fuel card programme will help your business in more ways than just the cost of fuel and this is a big advantage when looking to fully utilise manpower and financial resources.

Utilise our fuel card tool to find out more information on what programmes are available.

Take care and ensure you stay safe on the roads this winter. Winter driving is one of the most dangerous times on the road.

Our moods are not the only thing that the cold weather has an effect on. When it comes to driving in winter there are a number of different things that you have to take into consideration. Your safety is always the number one priority and there are certain things that you can do to ensure that you stay safe on the roads this winter.

First off, preparation is key! Check the Met Office the night before to see if there is any forecast inclement weather. Ensure you have the following items kept in the car in case you breakdown:

A torch with spare batteries

A scraper and de-icer

Jump leads

A mobile phone charger

Warm clothing and blankets

Food and drink (replace frequently)

A reflective warning sign

A spade or shovel.

These are items that you can pick up in any local Halfords or car retailer. It is essential for you to keep warm and to increase your safety in case of emergency.

It is important to keep your vehicle in good condition all year round but it is of particular importance during winter months. Car batteries are more prone to fail whilst driving in winter due to the amount that it is relied upon; try to avoid running electrical systems for longer than necessary to save on your battery life. Alternatively, charge your battery frequently during the winter months. Many car retailers stock battery-testing kits so you can manage the battery life expectancy.

Check your coolant on a regular basis and ensure that it is at the appropriate levels and ensure that there is anti-freeze in the coolant. Another issue people tend to neglect is the importance of wiper blades, make sure these are in good working order before setting off and replace them when necessary. Also ensure that you have enough winter screen-wash and that it is topped up for the frostier conditions. The local Highway Code will give you many tips in helping maintain your vehicle in the winter months.

During the cold winter months ensure that your car has been thoroughly scraped (when necessary), don’t just rely on the heaters in the car to break down the ice. Remove all the snow from your vehicle including the snow on the roof – if you hit a bump in the road or have to break suddenly the snow could fall forward and taint your vision which is a hazard to you, other drivers and pedestrians. Do not use hot water on your windscreen as it may damage and even crack the glass – an unnecessary expense that you can avoid!

When driving in winter months, particularly if you have a long journey to make, it is important that you keep an eye on the weather forecast and if it is particularly bad, drive only when absolutely necessary. When you are on the road make sure that you are aware of others around you and remember that due to road conditions your stopping distance and time may be increased.

Improving fuel efficiency is an excellent way for businesses running a fleet to reduce expenditure and save money. While you could always look at investing in more fuel efficient cars, this can be expensive, especially if you operate a large fleet.

Here are just three quick tips that can help improve fuel economy without the need for massive investment:

Check Tyre Pressure

Tyre maintenance can have a direct impact on fuel consumption, with under or over inflated tyres responsible for as much as 10 per cent extra fuel use. Having a maintenance regime in place where tyre pressure is checked at least once a month could save businesses a significant sum and help keep your drivers safe on the road.

Having the right type of tyres on your vehicles can also affect vehicle performance and so it is worth checking this every time there is a change.

Check Engine Oil

Engine oil is another part of vehicle maintenance that can be overlooked by drivers and vehicle owners. Make sure you use the right grade of oil to get the best performance out of your vehicle for a better fuel economy. Low viscosity is often the best choice but if the oil is too thin, there is less protection to engine parts and this can cause problems.

Use Fuel Cards

Another tip for improving fuel efficiency is to introduce fuel cards. A fuel card allows you to monitor fuel usage in detail so areas of inefficiency can be identified and addressed, plus you can take advantage of the best fuel prices across the country reducing the effect of regional price variances.

An added bonus of a fuel card is the efficiency it brings to fuel admin as well, with easy VAT reclaim and consolidated invoicing for multiple cards and networks on one account.

Get on the road to improving fuel efficiency in your fleet by finding and comparing fuel cards today. Find out more here.

Not only do fuel cards offer savings on fuel purchases and add significant security benefits for your company’s drivers (eliminating cash transactions from the equation), but they also reduce the amount of laborious administration and paperwork issues involved with pay & reclaim.

There are a wide variety of fuel cards on the market, each suited to a specific type of fleet, individual or group. If a small company only has six or seven vans travelling locally, then they will probably need a different type of card to another that operates a variety of vehicles over the entirety of the UK.

The Shell Fleet Fuel Card is one option that is especially suited to a fleet of HGV’s. Shell has a comprehensive network of more than 3,500 sites, including many that accommodate some of the country’s largest vehicles. All its fuel cards also come with fuel management systems allowing you to account for every last drop of petrol or diesel. Shell’s prices are highly competitive, and they boast premium quality fuel.

If your fleet requires a fuel card option for use on the continent then the European Diesel Fuel Card may be the right choice for you. It offers commercially priced diesel from an ever expanding network of more than 3,000 sites spread across 19 countries in Europe. Although, not by any means, exclusive to the haulage market the excellent rates available combined with the large number of HGV compatible sites make the EDC fuel card a great choice for the haulier with a European requirement.

However, what all of our fuel cards have in common are their advanced account management tools. It is these tools that many of our customers say is there number one reason for using fuel cards, because they prove unparalleled reporting and control of fuel use.

Chooseafuelcard partner UK Fuels is expanding and enhancing its range of digital products with the aim of retaining and winning customers in the country’s £6.5 billion fuel card market.

Fleet News reported that the business, which supplies 350,000 card holders, is due to launch two smartphone apps – Velocity and e-route – within the next month and has also redesigned its website.

Colin Peters, head of digital (Europe) for UK Fuels’s parent company Radius Payment Solutions, said: “We are looking to improve our customers’ experience of visiting our website and add value to our products at no extra cost to the client.”

“We believe that by giving our clients the tools they want, we can keep them for longer as well as grow our customer base.”

Velocity is an online reporting system designed for fleet managers and operates on desktop PCs as well as on smartphones.

“One reason for bringing this product to a phone is security,” said Peters. “If a fleet manager wanted to stop a card if it was stolen or if somebody had left the company, then they can select it on their phone, wherever they may be and whatever time it is, and instruct us to stop the card from there.

“Fleets can also see the location of where drivers are filling up and whether there is any unusual activity.”

He said the app also allows fleet operators to view and print all invoices, as well as create reports based on a number of criteria, such as drivers or date ranges. It can also give a detailed breakdown of a vehicle’s fuel economy.

e-route is aimed at both drivers and fleet managers, and shows UK Fuels customers which filling stations their fuel cards can be used at.

“When people have multiple brands or a card accepted at different forecourts we need to give them the tools to find those locations,” said Peters.

“We did a survey among drivers and one of the top issues raised was that they cannot find the stations their cards are accepted at.

“The traditional way has been to send drivers a directory telling them where they can fill up, but these are out of date almost as soon as they are published.”

He believes that e-route will help fleets with route planning and minimise route deviation when a driver needs to fill up.

The app also shows live traffic updates and allows the user to filter filling stations by a number of criteria, such as whether they stock AdBlue or are open 24 hours a day.

Peters said both apps are free for existing and new customers and work on both Android and Apple devices.

Even basic fuel card services can present significant advantages to companies with large or small fleets. However, determining the best fuel card services for your company can generate substantial savings, increase efficiency and improve financial management related to fuel. Four primary factors should be taken into consideration when choosing a fuel card service: network, pricing, set-up cost and services available. Each company has different needs and should explore the market to find the best fuel card services available.

Particularly for a large fleet that travels widely, network is a vitally important consideration. Each fuel card service is paired with a set number of filling stations nationwide, while some networks extend across Europe. Large companies, such as Shell and BP, have up to 3,000 partnered filling stations. Managers should also consider their drivers routes and ensure that they are densely covered by the network.

Two pricing systems are common among fuel card providers: pump related pricing, under which fuel cards are used to pay the advertised price, and fixed commercial pricing, which establishes a set weekly fuel price, which fuel card holders can pay at any station in the network. The set price is usually lower than the pump price, so these are generally the best fuel card services in terms of savings.

Most fuel card services have no set-up costs. However, finding the best fuel card service does require substantial input of time and labour.

Finally, fuel card services offer some or all of the following services: petrol, diesel, and maintenance services such as lube or ad blue. However, the best choice for you depends on the nature and needs of your fleet.

Saving money on fuel is one of the most important aspects of fleet management at the moment, with fuel costs constantly on the rise. There are plenty of ways to cut down on a vehicle’s fuel consumption that will help with the cost of petrol and diesel, and they don’t all involve moving to hybrid technology, which is still a lot more expensive in the short-term and don’t always provide the long-term benefit needed.

Vehicle Maintenance

Finding the best price for fuel is a good way to start but it is important to know if you’ll end up using more fuel to reach the cheaper prices, which means you are wasting fuel and spending more money in the long run.

Drivers should be checking tyre pressures regularly, as this has a direct impact on fuel consumption and can be corrected easier than other issues. The engine oil should also be changed regularly to keep the engine as efficient as possible. Remove excess weight that doesn’t need to be in the vehicle, including roof racks, to make the car lighter and use less fuel. One of the biggest ways to cut back on fuel consumption is to avoid using the air condition system as much as possible and open windows when it is suitable to do so.

Driver influence

The driver also has a direct impact on fuel consumption. Driving at a consistent speed will use less fuel, with sudden braking and sharp accelerating both using more fuel. Driving in the correct gear puts less pressure on the engine and allows it to use less fuel. Driving over 70mph will use more fuel, even if you do drive at consistent speeds, and fuel cards can also give you cheaper prices at stations in an area or across the country.

As fuel prices continue to increase, searching for the cheapest prices is becoming more important for businesses to ensure they are only spending what they have to on their fleets and fuel usage. The problem many drivers are facing is that the cheapest refuelling stations can be far away and this means drivers are spending more money to get cheaper prices on petrol and diesel.

How is this possible?

There is no set list of what stations offer what prices and this makes it difficult for drivers to find the best deals – especially if they are travelling across the country on a regular basis. Taking advantage of local knowledge can be useful but not everyone will know of the best prices and searching for the best price could cost you more in the long run, as you spend more time and fuel looking and getting to those value prices.

If your drivers are doing this, petrol vehicles could be using an extra £8 worth of fuel a month, and diesel drivers could be using up to £21 of fuel a month. These figures may seem low, but over a year they build up, and with large fleets involved, these figures will not help any business.

Keeping track of the prices

One sure-fire way to combat this problem is to have drivers keep a log of prices at different stations when the can. This is easier if the business operates locally or regionally but for drivers operating nationally, it will build a picture of where to find the best value on fuel. Prices will changes but the cheaper stations will often still be cheaper if prices increase and keeping a table or record of these locations can help save your business money.

With the backlash of the 5ppl increase still in people’s mind, it is easy to forget a lot of stations have not brought their prices up fully to reflect this increase. This has brought about large variances in an area than has previously been seen and has forced business owners to ensure their drivers are being smart about where they refuel.

Why is this happening so often?

There are a number of factors at work that is behind the consistent increase in fuel prices throughout the country. Tax is a big one that has increased a lot in recent years and only helped to hike up the prices of fuel. Businesses can get help for this from HMRC and it is worth looking into no matter what fleet size you operate.

The dwindling resources are also increasing the price as it becomes harder to source and extract what is needed for road fuel. This also has an effect on import and export prices, which again increases prices faced by businesses and their drivers.

Is anything being done?

The government is looking at ways to help lower the costs as much as possible, while not dropping the tax on fuel. A scheme looking at helping rural and hard to reach filling stations as they suffer from increased transport costs is underway and could lower the costs of petrol and diesel in the higher regions of the country but this doesn’t help other areas where prices are still considered to be too high. There are few options available to cut the costs further at this time, however.

Supermarkets run price-matching campaigns across a range of products in-store, but this never extends to petrol and diesel, much to the dismay of motorists everywhere. This is even worse when you consider that fuel prices are a hot topic all over the country and businesses are desperate to make savings on this product. So, why are supermarkets not listening to the mass market?

Why there’s not a national price

Supermarkets have always aimed to provide the best prices for consumers, which is why regional variances are so common. Some products do have a minimum price applied across the board but even this can be reduced to beat competitors. Price-checks are done often to ensure that even if not all products are cheaper, enough of the highest sellers combine to provide a reduced total.

This doesn’t work with fuel because there is a much smaller range of products – but why there are so many differences in one area or region is baffling for motorists. Surely a fuel station five minutes away can’t justify a 3ppl difference between the two?

Are motorists being ripped off?

It’s the question on everyone’s mind all across the country. The cost of road fuel is constantly going up, and supermarkets are often cheaper to refill at but that doesn’t mean the prices reasonable. So many of us are used to price-matching promises from supermarkets, and since this does not include fuel prices, especially with such large variances in sometimes very small areas, it is easy to feel ripped off as the battle between fuel suppliers rages on.

Fuel prices have always varied across the country, and regional variances are common but a bigger divide is developing across much smaller areas that is causing confusion and dismay among motorists and businesses. Local knowledge is becoming essential in finding the cheapest fuel prices, but there are still plans being developed that will allow fuel prices to be published online, allowing drivers to plan their routes more effectively.

The impact on motorists

So what impact does this have on your business? Well, your drivers are going to have to spend more time finding the best prices for fuel on every journey they make. Operating and travelling within a region or area can quickly give them an idea of the best places to refill but if they are travelling across the country, they won’t always know the differences between one station and the next one. Waiting too long can see you forced into refuelling at an expensive station and there’s nothing that can be done about it.

The national average had previously hidden regional variances to an extent but the 5ppl lift in early July has been passed on by some services and hidden by others, bringing the issue into the spotlight.

Finding the best price

Unfortunately, there’s no guide to fuel prices in different areas you can take advantage of. Some people might have posted their own articles or guides for certain areas but these won’t be updated all the time and the information can quickly become out-dated. Keeping a track of which stations are cheaper will help, as well as investing in a fuel card to provide stable prices that can make big differences in the long run.

New research suggests that motorists believe they are spending almost £15 a month more on fuel than they were this time last year. It doesn’t sound a like a lot on its own but that’s almost £180 a year extra if the pattern remains the same and it shows how aware cash strapped consumers are of the current situation.

Why motorists are feeling the squeeze

Motorists are feeling the squeeze because fuel is so important in everyday life. It’s not always possible to make use of public transport and some jobs rely on having a car to complete daily tasks. While there is some support for work purposes, this rarely covers the cost of travelling to work, which is just one of the reasons why fuel is so important.

Motorists are trying every trick in the book to cut back on costs. Fuel is something they can’t avoid and need daily so it’s other aspects of their lives that suffer. There is the option to invest in technology that can help but it is still very expensive in the short-term and most motorists can’t afford that initial cost.

Trying to save money on fuel

There a range of ways motorists can save money on their petrol and diesel, with fuel cards being one option to do so. With so many options available, you will be able to find one that suits your situation and gives you the best prices.

Additionally, ensuring your car is in prime condition will help ease fuel consumption and you will refill less often. Investing in fuel efficient technology might be expensive in the short term but could provide a larger long-term gain.

Inflation is set to remain high for another period of time and fuel prices are among the increases consumers can expect to see along with train fares. These increases will negate slowing price increases for food and clothing but that won’t help the millions of motorists who need to pay extra to drive to and from work each day.

What does this mean?

Petrol and diesel are an essential material for workers across the country and the high prices are causing more concern on a weekly basis. For motorists everywhere, managing their budgets is essential and this means they are cutting other things to ensure they are still able to drive and be mobile – which is important just to be able to get to and from work.

There are plenty of arguments that discounts in fashion and clothing is useless because the increasing fuel costs mean that there is no room in the budget to take advantage of these deals. A lot of motorists also argue that the economy is not keeping up with rising costs when it comes to wages, as the increases in hourly wages and salaries seem to increase at a much slower rate than the price rises for all commodities.

What can people do to help themselves?

While strict budgeting is an option, there comes a point where there is very little that can be cut out. It is worth looking at car share options if they are available and this can lower the cost for all involved. Journey planning can allow you to avoid areas where fuel prices are higher than average and this can save money over time but it doesn’t solve the problem motorists across the country are facing.

A new campaign by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has been launched encouraging drivers to adopt as many eco-driving habits as possible to help them save up to 20% on fuel costs. This comes at a time when increasing fuel prices are causing more headaches for motorists across the country.

What are eco-driving habits?

Eco-driving habits are aspects of driving that encourage drivers to be environmentally friendly with the vehicle and driving as much as possible. There are plenty of guidelines you can follow but they all follow a similar line: how to use less fuel on your journey and save money on filling up.

Examples of eco-driving habits are to avoid sudden acceleration and braking as driving at a more consistent pace will use less fuel. Going along the same lines, ensuring you are in the correct gear will mean the engine isn’t working too hard and if you don’t use the air conditioning in your vehicle as much as possible, you will save a lot more fuel on every journey.

What else can be done to help?

You can save money by making use of a fuel card, and while there is a huge range to choose from, you will be able to find one to suit your needs. This will give you the best prices in certain locations, or with specific stations and brands. Planning your journey in advance can help you find the routes that will let you avoid high fuel prices and travel at a consistent pace. By removing excess weight from your vehicle, you will also save on fuel as extra weight consumes more fuel on every journey.

Fuel prices are always a hot topic, with the increasing prices a concern for motorists across the UK. There are plenty of reports and graphs to show that even when prices do drop for oil, these savings are rarely passed on to the consumer for the full amount that could be saved.

Why is the market so unclear?

It’s hard to suggest one definite reason as to why the market is so cloudy. Recent reports over a potential price scandal play a part, as do decreasing supplies of oil and materials used to make petrol and diesel. Transport costs can also play an important role. These reasons, and more, make it difficult to get to the bottom of where any possible problems might be and how to fix them.

Companies are very reluctant to be open about their business so the consumer can feel cut off from what is happening and why they are paying these high prices. Yet, it is still so important in everyday life to have access to fuel to get to work, travel to shops or for personal reasons.

Is there social injustice?

Fuel prices hit everyone in some way, whether it is because of transport costs, supply costs or purchasing the fuel yourself, it is very expensive. With the difference in social classes it is even more obvious that those on lower incomes feel the strain as they have less money to budget in the beginning.

A clearer fuel industry would help shed some light as to what is happening, and if changes are needed. The biggest change, which most consumers would agree on, is the price should come down but since we don’t understand the processes behind the suppliers, it’s unlikely to happen soon. The other option is to wait for new fuel technology and hope it presents more economical solution to all, regardless of their income.

Alternatively, Chooseafuelcard.com offer a more realistic way to reduce the amount you spend on fuel. Further details can be found here.

The Government has proposed a fuel cut to rural areas of the UK that suffer from high prices due to higher costs to transport the petrol and diesel to those locations. Evidence is being gathered from rural areas of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to prove that fuel prices have been consistently high before any reduction can be granted, with overall approval coming from the European Commission.

Where did it start?

This deduction started with islanders off the coast of Scotland and Scilly receiving a 5p discount to compensate the increased prices due to transporting the fuel offshore. This has helped to keep prices more manageable in these areas but has not been rolled out across the UK, even in areas where prices are still very high.

The UK Government is looking at other areas of the country where fuel prices are high, and have been for a period of time, to possibly introduce a duty cut that will help motorists manage the costs better. This is a welcome sign in all proposed areas but the problem does not end there.

Dealing with repercussions

There is a potential backlash among other areas of the UK that won’t receive this reduction. While living in a rural area puts more pressure on people to drive to reach places of work and supplies, everyone across the country is suffering from high fuel prices and a lot of people are complaining that they need help as well. Whether this will happen is unknown at this time but no plans have been put forward.